Here is a list of the essential apps you need for China. I guarantee that downloading these apps will make your trip to China go much more smoothly.
China does things differently in many ways, so you’ll have to make a few adaptations during your trip. Even something as simple as paying for your food can be difficult if you’re not clued-up on how things work in China. A little preparation goes a long way, so without further ado, here’s the list of essential apps that you need for travelling in China.
All the apps discussed in this post are available for both iPhone and Android, with the exception of Apple Maps (but I’ve provided an alternative).
Table of Contents
1. Alipay (+ DiDi)
Alipay is the most important app you’ll need for your travels in China. Alipay is the best method of paying in China for travellers, so you’ll be using this one a lot.
China operates a virtually cashless system nowadays (although you can still use cash if you really want). Most people in China pay with QR codes through Alipay or WeChat pay. Alipay works more reliably for international users, and you can link your travel bank card (e.g. Starling, Revolut, Monzo) to it directly.
Alipay also has mini-apps within it, which means you can access other useful Chinese apps without having to install them separately.
DiDi
DiDi is an essential mini-app inside Alipay. It’s the Chinese equivalent of Uber, and the best way to call a taxi in China. DiDi is a cheap and easy way to get around China.
For more details, check out my guide on how to set up and use Alipay in China.
Download Alipay: iOS | Android
2. WeChat
WeChat is an essential app for anyone living in China. Literally everyone in China has WeChat. It’s the main messaging app, but is also a whole eco-system. Like Alipay, WeChat has a QR code payment function and contains mini-apps.
As a visitor to China, you won’t be needing to use all the features of WeChat, but here are a few that will be useful for you:
- Messaging – WeChat is the main messaging app in China, and the best way to keep in touch with local friends. It’s also useful to have as a back-up method of communication for friends and family back home, as WhatsApp is technically blocked in China.
- WeChat Wallet – this is a method of QR code payment similar to Alipay. Whilst Alipay is the recommended payment method for foreign travellers, WeChat pay is by far the most popular method of payment in China for locals. Both are generally accepted everywhere, although WeChat pay is universally accepted. Read more in my guide to paying in China.
- Booking Tickets – certain attractions, particularly national ones like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, require you to book tickets in advance on WeChat. This is done through their specific mini-apps within WeChat, which are unfortunately all in Chinese. If you’re feeling brave, you could take screenshots and use Google Translate. Alternatively, you could also get your hotel to help you book it on your account.
- Communicating with Hotel – WeChat has a fairly accurate translate function for messages, which is useful if you want to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak English. Hotels often have an official WeChat account that they encourage you to add upon check-in. This does make it easier to explain any issues or questions you have.
Download WeChat: iOS | Android
3. Apple Maps
Ok, hear me out on this one. The best navigation app for China is Apple Maps. This might come as a surprise to you. It was for me, and I had to re-install Apple Maps on my phone for China.
Google Maps is blocked in China, so although you can access it through a VPN (more on that later), nobody uses it anymore. That means the information on Google Maps is very out of date and you can’t check public transport options.
Apple Maps pulls data from Gaode Maps, a Chinese map app, so the information is up-to-date. Apple Maps is in English, but the place names are also displayed in Chinese underneath – handy for (slightly) bilingual users. Many expats in China use Apple Maps as their main means of navigation.
The one big drawback to Apple Maps is that it’s only available for iPhone. As an Android user, you’ll just have to find an Apple-loving friend instead…
Just kidding. For Android users, I recommend installing MetroMan China instead. It’s a route planner app for taking the metro in China. It works for all major cities in mainland China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau.
Here’s my detailed guide on getting around in China.
Download Apple Maps: iOS only
Download MetroMan China: iOS | Android
4. Trip.com
Trip (or Trip.com) is China’s biggest online travel agency, and the best way to book transport and hotels for travellers in China. The English version of Trip is geared towards international travellers in China. It’s generally quite easy to change or refund reservations directly in the Trip app.
Train tickets in China are only released 15 days in advance. To book further in advance, you need to make a reservation through a travel agency (such as Trip). If you’re not planning that far ahead, you can also book directly through the official Railway 12306 website and save a little on booking fees.
Trip is also useful for booking domestic flights in China, and they often have good deals for international flights as well. It’s worth having a look at prices.
Trip has the best selection of accommodation options for China. Although you can find accommodation options on other sites like Booking.com or Agoda, you’ll find cheaper deals for hotels in China on Trip. Trip also provides translated hotel reviews and user photos from ctrip, the Chinese version of Trip, so you can get a better idea of your options.
I’ve also written guides specifically on train travel in China and booking hotels in China.
5. VPN
Many western websites and apps are blocked in China by what’s semi-affectionately known as the ‘Great Firewall’. This includes Google, Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Gen Zers can feel smug, as TikTok and Snapchat aren’t blocked in China. But don’t despair – there is a way for you to post your best food pics on Instagram during your travels in China.
To bypass the blockade, you need something called a VPN. VPN stands for ‘virtual private network’. It’s a piece of software that sets up a private secure connection for your device, allowing you to access websites that might otherwise be blocked for your region.
To use a VPN you need to install an app on your phone or laptop. There are various different companies out there offering VPN services. The more well-known ones often don’t work in China (that includes ExpressVPN, NordVPN, SurfShark).
I recommend LetsVPN (快速VPN). It’s cheap and, most importantly, reliably connects you to the outside world. It has good speeds, and I’ve used it to stream TV shows whilst in China.
Another one popular with expats is AstrillVPN. It’s more expensive than LetsVPN, but has been recommended to me by quite a few people living in China.
With any VPN software, make sure to install the app/software on your devices BEFORE you get to China, as you may not be able to download it once you get there.
Download LetsVPN: iOS | Android
6. Google Translate
Google Translate is an app that every traveller should have in their arsenal. Of course, it’s polite to learn a few basic phrases in the local language, but you’ll be using this app a lot on your travels in China.
Google Translate is going to be essential on your trip to China, as most people in China don’t speak any English. This is true even in Beijing, which receives thousands of foreign tourists every year.
The Chinese written language doesn’t have an alphabet, so it often feels practically impossible to decipher for international visitors. Thankfully, Google Translate has a camera function, which you can point at restaurant menus and signs to read them. There’s also a voice translate function – but this doesn’t work as well with strong regional accents.
Download Google Translate: iOS | Android
I hope you found my list of essential apps for travelling in China useful. If you haven’t already, have a look at my other helpful guides for China:
- How to Pay in China
- Getting a SIM Card for China
- How to Get Around in China
- How to Book Hotels in China
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Photo Credit: featured image by Haoli Chen on Unsplash
